Countdown to Camp: Ranking the Ten Most Important Giants
Despite a 4-12 campaign last season, the New York Giants have a new coaching staff and have upgraded several areas on their football team, including the offensive line, defensive secondary, and linebackers--all spots that were either woefully overmatched last year or understaffed due to injuries.
While no one is expecting the Giants to take the quantum leap that the 49ers managed to make last year--unlike the Giants, the 49ers had a different set of circumstances which included a returning coaching staff and a reliable and experienced defense, to name a few--improvement by this Giants team is definitely on the wish-list.
Head coach Joe Judge has said that he envisions a Giants team that reflects the spirit of the tri-state areas: hard-working, fundamentally sound, and competitive, to name a few characteristics. For the Giants to get there, they will need a solid effort from the entire coaching staff and the 53-man roster. The following ten Giants ranked below are going to be especially important in ensuring that this new era of Giants football has a successful launch.
No. 10. Receiver Sterling Shepard
Since the departure of Odell Beckham Jr last off-season, the Giants have lacked a true No. 1 receiver. Although never stated by the franchise, the goal has always been to try to absorb the production Beckham brought to the table.
Enter Shepard, who when healthy has been a productive option and who per PFF was the Giants top-graded receiver last year despite his abbreviated season. Although he missed six games with multiple concussions last season, the 5”10" wide-out posted 57 receptions for 576 yards and three touchdowns in 10 contests and led the team with a 68.7% reception rate.
The head injuries are the main concern with Shepard, who, last year after signing a contract extension, was reported to have suffered two concussions within a month.
To minimize the risk of another concussion, Shepard must learn to protect himself. The fifth-year veteran’s presence is critical on the Giants offense. He is a playmaker, who draws attention from defenses and will help free up his fellow receivers in Golden Tate and Darius Slayton.
No. 9. Edge Oshane Ximines
Oshane Ximines is one of several Giants rookies coming off a strong first season. The Giants third-round pick out of Old Dominion recorded 4.5 sacks and nine quarterback hits.
With the Giants looking to turbocharger their otherwise sluggish pass rush, they hope that Ximines can play a significant role. But the Giants undoubtedly want Ximines to be more than just a pass rusher, as they continue to emphasize stopping the run.
Last year, Ximines recorded 13 run stops and missed just three tackle attempts, per PFF. Of his 24 official tackles (according to league stats), Ximines had seven solo and nine assisted against the run.
The development of Ximines is crucial because the Giants did not do much to address the edge rusher position this off-season beyond bringing in Kyler Fackrell in free agency.
While they are hoping to have Markus Golden, last year's team leader in sacks, back on the UFA tender (which states that if he doesn't sign with another team before the start of training camp, his playing rights revert to the Giants for the coming season), even with Golden's team-leading 10 sacks last year, the Giants ranked 22nd in sacks per pass attempt (6.47%)
The team lacks a dominant pocket disruptor and if they hope to produce consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Ximines must step up and show progress after a promising rookie year if he's to be part of that solution.
No. 8. Defensive Tackle Leonard Williams
The deadline for teams to sign their franchise tag players to long-term deals came and went with no deal for Leonard Williams and the Giants, the former set to play on a one-year franchise tag worth as much as $16.126 million.
While the trade itself remains a head-scratcher, Williams did have a solid eight games for the Giants last year. He only recorded a half-sack last year but did manage to generate 31 total pressures in eight games for the Giants, including 18 quarterback hits.
Where Williams' presence was also profoundly felt was against the run, where he contributed 11 stops. The Giants run defense also saw its average rushing yardage allowed improve ever so slightly.
The question with Williams has always been exactly what kind of player he is. Is he a piece around whom a team builds a defense, or is he a complementary piece? We at Giants Country have opined he is the latter, though the hope is that with Williams playing for a new long-term contract this season, he proves to be more of the former.
No. 7. Cornerback Sam Beal
With the availability of second-year cornerback DeAndre Baker looking less likely, the Giants will need someone to step up into that second cornerback role opposite of free-agent James Bradberry.
That someone could be Sam Beal, the Giants' third-round pick int he 2018 supplemental draft who, thus far, has been better known for the time he's missed due to injury--his rookie season was lost to a shoulder ailment, and last year he missed a large chunk of the season on IR with a hamstring strain.
Upon his return, he split time down the stretch with Baker, showing signs of speed, athleticism, and physicality outside the numbers.
The production wasn't quite there, though, as he allowed 70% of the pass targets against him to be complete for 130 yards and one touchdown while recording just one pass breakup and no interceptions. But it's probably fair to chalk that up to inexperience at the NFL level.
That needs to change moving forward. Beal will likely compete with Corey Ballentine for the starting perimeter role, as Julian Love figures to be someone the coaching staff will move around.
Either way, the Giants need Beal to step up and show that he's still the same player with the intriguing skillset that attracted them two years ago.
No. 6. Safety Xavier McKinney
After seeing Curtis Riley and Antoine Bethea struggle to play free safety with any conviction, Gettleman knew he had to finally shore up that spot. He did so by drafting Alabama safety Xavier McKinney with the 36 overall pick in this year’s draft.
McKinney, described by The Draft Network as a potential "game-changing defender...with plus tackling skills in space, strong football IQ and a knack for hunting the football in all phases" who " projects as a difference-maker and explosive play creator" sounds like the kind of player the Giants have been missing from their safety position for years.
What will be interesting is how defensive coordinator Patrick Graham chooses to deploy his safeties. It is liekly they will deploy a lot of three-safety sets with McKinney playing centerfield as the deep-half safety with Love and Peppers lined up opposite each other along with the hashes.
This set should not only pair up well against the run but should also help the Giant defensive secondary avoid being toasted by the speedsters they'll face this season, such as Ceedee Lamb and Amari Cooper in Dallas, Jalen Reagor in Philadelphia and Terry McLaurin in Washington.
Rookie defensive backs often experience growing pains in their first year in the league. Still, McKinney is a seasoned player with loads of versatility and talent who can line up anywhere in the secondary and can even rush the passer.
A productive season from McKinney means an improved pass defense for the Giants, who ranked 29 in the NFL last year, allowing 264 yards per game.
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No. 5. Tight End Evan Engram
The biggest kick on Evan Engram has been his inability to stay on the field, but no one can knock the talent, and versatility Engram can bring to the offense.
Assuming Engram is fully recovered from his season-ending Lisfranc injury, expect him to play a huge role int he vertical style of offense new coordinator Jason Garrett is thought to be planning.
The fourth-year tight end is a mismatch nightmare as he is too fast for safeties and linebackers and too big for cornerbacks. He was among the league leaders in receiving at his position throughout the first five weeks of 2019, and was on pace for a career year until a knee sprain slowed him.
Following his return to the lineup, Engram could not catch a break as a foot injury would keep him out of the final seven games. He would undergo surgery on the foot in December that put him a walking boot for several months.
But recent videos of him working out that appeared on his Instagram show him moving around and changing direction with no apparent difficulties.
Another factor to consider is the impact that Kaden Smith and Levine Toilolo might have on Engram. Throughout most of his career, Engram has been pretty much asked to do it all--receiving and blocking. In Garrett's offense, Toilolo should handle most of the in-line work, leaving Engram free to be moved around the offensive formation where he stands to gain a competitive edge in a mismatch.
If he can get a full season in and be as productive as many think is possible, Engram could be poised for his first Pro Bowl season.
4. Offensive Tackle Nate Solder
It’s no secret that Nate Solder’s best years are probably behind him. But as the Giants gear up for 2020, Solder remains very much in the mix along the starting offensive line--the question that we'll answer in a moment, is at which position?
First, let's look at Solder's play, which last year saw him give up the most pressures of any offensive lineman in the NFL. An argument could be made that Solder, signed to play left tackle after the failed Ereck Flowers experiment, was injured. (It was suspected that his ankle, which he had surgically repaired before the start of training camp last year continued to give him trouble.)
However, if a player is "well enough" to be on the field, an injury shouldn't be used as an excuse. While to his credit Solder never used any injuries as an excuse, the result was a performance that was likely well below his standards.
That all said, Solder still represents one of the best starting five offensive linemen for the Giants--yes ahead of veteran swing tackle Cam Fleming, who signed with the Giants this off-season after spending the last couple years with the Cowboys and ahead of rookie third-round pick Matt Peart out of UConn. (Nick Gates, another candidate for tackle, is believed to be more in the mix at center, so we'll discount him from the tackle consideration for the time being.)
The Giants drafted left tackle of the future Andrew Thomas with the fourth overall pick this year. Presumably, Thomas will play right tackle, where he would line up next to veteran right guard Kevin Zeitler, leaving Solder on the left side with third-year guard Will Hernandez.
If Solder should struggle again, it would not be inconceivable for the Giants to replace him with Fleming or, if Peart is ready, the rookie. Either way, it's hard to imagine Solder being with the Giants beyond this season, despite being under contract through 2021.
No. 3. Offensive Tackle Andrew Thomas
When a team spends a top-5 pick on a player, this prospect is expected to come in and make an impact from Day 1.
Such is the expectation for former Georgia offensive tackle Andrew Thomas, the fourth overall pick in this year's draft. Thomas dominated the SEC playing for the Bulldogs for the past three seasons and has been tucked away inside a gym where he's been preparing for his upcoming adjustment from college to the pros.
At Georgia, Thomas gave up only one sack last season, and five total throughout his career despite going up against some of the best talent at the edge rusher position in college football.
The 21-year-old will cross-train at both tackle spots, and the long-term plan is believed to be one in which Thomas will be the left tackle of the future. While it is tempting to move Nate Solder to the right side, noted offensive line analyst told Giants Country's Patricia Traina on a recent LockedOn Giants (around the 18:50 mark) it might be easier for Thomas to move to the right side this year.
Either way, The team invested in Thomas to be a significant part in the turnaround of their offensive line given the position he plays and protect their young franchise quarterback Daniel Jones and superstar running back Saquon Barkley for the foreseeable future.
No. 2. Running Back Saquon Barkley
Is there any doubt that Saquon Barkley is one of the top cogs in the Giants wheel this season?
After being slowed by a high ankle sprain for much of last season, Barkley looked like his old self down the stretch, putting up huge performances in the final two weeks of the year and still managed to eclipse the 1,000-yard mark.
Based on his off-season workout videos, Barkley looks like a man on a mission, hoping to take revenge on the league and put them all back on notice.
If Barkley stays healthy, there is no telling what he will accomplish, especially with an improved offensive line and Garrett's offense. It's anticipated Barkley will become more involved not only in more outside zone runs but also in more outside zone runs also as a receiver split out wide.
What makes Barkley so unique is his elusiveness as a runner and his threat as a receiver. When he’s 100%, Barkley brings a similar impact that heralds compared to Carolina Panther’s All-Pro feature back Christian McCaffrey given their ability to dominate when the ball is handed off to them or thrown their way.
No. 1. Quarterback Daniel Jones
Coming off a rookie season, where he took over for the franchise’s legendary future Hall of Fame and Super Bowl champion quarterback Eli Manning, the mild-tempered, southern boy from Charlotte, North Carolina, Daniel Jones, exceeded many of expectations in Year 1.
Despite the adverse reaction his selection at No. 6 overall generated among the fan base, Jones produced a 61.9% completion percentage to go along with 24 touchdowns and 12 interceptions on 3,027 yards through the air.
He also impressed as a runner with 279 rushing yards and two touchdowns. His only flaw was his inability to hang onto the football coughing up a league-leading 18 fumbles.
The good thing about Jones is he's not oblivious to his flaws and has been said to be hard at work addressing every aspect of his game.
It's been a challenge, no doubt, without actually getting on the grass to work with his teammates, but reports of Jones holding a passing camp last month and working with a trainer to add muscle are all positive developments.
As a rookie, Jones led his team to a 3-9 record due to inadequate protection and a suspect defense. It didn't help that his supporting cast of Barkley, Engram, Golden Tate, Shepard, and Darius Slayton were never on the field together. It also didn't help Jones that he had a head coach/play-caller who arguably didn't take full advantage of the then rookie's strengths.
The young signal-caller now has a new head coach, offensive coordinator, and an offensive line that is expected to be improved from a season ago.
While this team's success relies on more than just one position or group, Jones must show progress in his sophomore campaign if the Giants are going to turn things around this season.
Additional reporting by Patricia Traina.
